The recently introduced Nintendo Switch exclusive underwater adventure game Endless Ocean: Luminous is facing a mix of reviews from critics, positioning it as one of the less favored Nintendo-published games in recent times. The game marks the third installment in the Endless Ocean series developed by Akira, following a Wii exclusive debut in 2007 and a sequel in 2009.
The earlier Endless Ocean titles did not achieve extraordinary success, with review scores hovering around 72 and 76 for the first and second games, respectively. Given this track record, expectations for Endless Ocean: Luminous were not particularly high. Following its release and subsequent reviews, Endless Ocean: Luminous now stands as the lowest-rated game in the series to date.
According to the review aggregator OpenCritic, Endless Ocean: Luminous holds a 63 overall rating, with a mere 21% of critics recommending it. While a few reviews awarded the game 8/10, the majority rated it 7/10 or lower, with some as low as 4/10 and 5/10. Criticisms mainly revolved around the game being dull and repetitive, with the multiplayer mode failing to enhance the experience significantly.
Assessing Endless Ocean: Luminous Reviews
A key feature of Endless Ocean: Luminous is its support for 30-player multiplayer, allowing players to explore the game world together. While previous Endless Ocean games had multiplayer options, Luminous is notable for its expanded multiplayer functionality. However, reviews indicate that the multiplayer mode failed to impress critics significantly, although it was considered better than the single-player experience.
Although uncommon for a Nintendo-published game to receive such low ratings, it is not unprecedented. Some of the Nintendo games released in 2024 received lower-than-anticipated reviews but still fared better than Endless Ocean: Luminous. For instance, Princess Peach: Showtime received a 75 overall rating, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong scored a 77. While Nintendo often releases games with higher ratings, these titles were relatively modest compared to hits like Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Looking ahead, there are still exciting Nintendo Switch games on the horizon. The remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year-Door is set to launch on May 23, followed by Luigi's Mansion 2 HD on June 27.